Container



Dec. l, 1953 G. C. REID ET AL 2,661,137

' CONTAINER Filed June 8, V1949 @www a INVENTORS GEORGE C`. EE/D SAMUEL 5. .TACBS A 7' TOENE Y Patented Dec. l, 1953 NETED STATES PATENT GFFICE CONTAINER Application `lune 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,841

4 Claims.

This invention relates to containers for the packaging and delivery of liquids, such as milk, fruit juices and the like and has particular reference to a novel top end seam in which marginal edge portions of a iiat top end member or the marginal flanges of both a top end member and a protective overcap are interlocked with marginal flanges of the container body and shaped in such a manner as to protect the top member from damage and to shed water and other undesirable substances from the top of the container. In certain respects, the present invention constitutes an improvement upon the container disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall.

The invention contemplates a sanitary top construction for a container which includes an end member having a filling and dispensing opening therein and provided with a reclosure element and protected preferably by a superimposed overcap or cover and having portions of the top end member and the overcap incorporated with portions of the body in an end seam of novel construction.

An object of the invention is the provision of a sanitary bre container for milk and other liquids comprising a ilat top secured to a body member in an end seam wherein the end seam is formed in such a manner as to eliminate crevices or indentations in the top of the container wherein liquids such as water or other foreign matter might accumulate and to provide for the shedding of such substances.

Another object is the provision of such an end seam wherein the seam annularly surrounds the container body, is spaced outwardly from the adjacent exterior Wall of the body and thereby provides room for forming of the end seam from the exterior of the body.

Another object is the provision of such an end seam wherein the seam depends from the top edge of the body in a reinforcing curve or angular section so as to impart great strength, rigidity and shedding qualities to the seam.

Another object is the provision of such an end Seam wherein the outer periphery of the seam is located inside of the outer periphery of the body of the container so that the end seam outer peripheries of adjacently disposed and engaging containers will be in separated relation to facilitate removal. oi containers assembled in a case, to prevent damage to or accidental opening oi the end seams during shipment and handling and to enable the ultimate consumer to read printed matter on the annular necked-in body walls of the containers.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the upper part of a container embodying the improved seam construction and illustrating a hinged overcap and a closure element in opened or partially raised position on top of the container;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the opened container illustrated in Fig. l taken substantially along a vertical plane indicated by the lines 2 2 in that gure; and

Fig, 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the container parts in their sealed position.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a substantially rectangular container comprising a iibre tubular body Il closed at its upper end with a sanitary, fiat nbre top end closure member i2. The bottom end of the container may be closed in a suitable manner, such as for example, as disclosed in the above mentioned Hothersall patent.

The body I l is formed preferably from a single sheet or blank of fibrous material folded at right angles to provide four side walls i3 and having the side edges of the sheet overlapped to form a vertical lap side seam ill (Fig. 1). The overlapped seam edges are secured with a suitable adhesive for producing a liquid proof side seam.

The body walls I3 adjacent their upper ends are necked-in or formed with inwardly obliquely extending wall sections l5 (Fig. 2) which merge into short vertical annular wall sections i6. An extension of each of the wall sections I f provides a spaced marginal edge portion ll at the upper end of the body, which edge portion is bent or shaped in such manner as to produce an annular cover or end member receiving channel i8, surrounding the necked-in part of the converter body.

The marginal edge portion il preferably extends outwardly spaced away from the wal'. section i6 and thence downwardly to provide a curved annular wall section 2l which merges into a depending and arcuate surrounding wall 22 which is spaced outward relative to the wall It. At its lower end the wall 22 continues into an outwardly and upwardly curved annular wall section 23 which terminates in an upstanding and arcuate surrounding wall 24 which is spaced outwardly relative to the depending wall 22. The spaced arcuate walls 22, 24, united by, and together with, the curved wall section 23 thus provide the depending annular channel i8 for the reception of marginal portions of the top closure member i2.

depending curved marginal edge or flange 25` (Figs. 2 and 3).

The top closure member l2 is providedl witha circular filling and dispensing opening` 26 through which products are filled into a container to4 which such an end member is secured and for dispensing the products therefrom. The opening 26 preferably is located adjacent one corner of the container (Fig. 1).

The filling and dispensing opening 26 in the top' end member isclosed by a hingeable closure 2l which has av countersunk orl drawni friction plug or reclosure element 28 which fits snugly L and closes and seals the opening 2. A flange extension of the closurev 2T overlaps upon a part, of the top endmember surrounding the opening and has an opening tab 3i and anv oppositelyv disposed tail or hinge lug 32"'. The closure 2l; is attached to the end member byy securing the hinge lug 32 by a suitable adhesive and/or a staple 33', permittingl the closure to be swung up and, back to uncover* the opening 26Y fori-llingthe container and' for dispensing its contents;

The instant type; container preferably protected by an overcap or auxiliary cover 3ft: which is formed from fibrous materialE preferably of a lighter weight or thickness than the container bodyv or the top closure member' and is adaptedy This overcap is adapted to uncover the plug closure 27 and a part of the top end {'2 to. gain access to the opening 2'6 and thusY is' divided by a creased line 33 formed in the overcap and extending diagonally across the top of the conv- D tainer, definingv a fixed or stationary major portion 31 which is substantially triangular in outline (Fig. 1) and a free or hinged triangular` portion 3S.

The marginal edge or flange S'ifofthe overcap is slit inwardly at 4i (Fig. 1) toward' the opposite ends of the creased lines 36 to separate the marginal edge with respectA to the triangular portions of the overcap so that part of this edge portion may be temporarily attached to the container when the free triangular portion i'sA sealed and/cr hinged therewith when the container is opened for filling and dispensingY purposes, while another or major ange part 52' of the edge. portion or flange 35' issecured, permanently with the fixed triangular portion to the container bod-y.

The slitting of the marginaledge flange 3,5- preferably precedes the assembly of the overcap 3A with the end member |72; which assembly in-l cludes securing the-fixed or stationary triangular portion 37 with its marginal and overlapping edge or flange portion 42, to the end member l-Z; and to the curved marginal edge 25: respectively, by means. of a suitable liquid proof adhesive, thus producing a unitary or compositive closure;

The composite closure is assembled to the container body by inserting the curved marginal edge 25 of the end member l2 together with the portion of the marginal edgeA flange E2 extending fromthe fixed triangular portion of the overcap, into the depending cover receiving channel l5 wherein these marginal edge portions are secured by a suitable liquid proof adhesive in an endf seam 43. Said seam depends from the top edge of the container at substantially right angles y thereto, so; as' to` impart strength and rigidity to the seam and tothecontainer top as a unit.

This curved and depending end seam @il preferablyf is. disposed. in spaced relation to the necked-in portion and more particularly the annular wall section i@ of the body to provide room for the assembly' of the marginal edge portions of the end closure,` overcap and container flanges' while at the saine time retaining the end seam within the confines or outshe periphery of the container body. This is tothe end that the end seams of adjacent containers packed or assembled in a case for shipment, will be in spaced relation and out of engagement with oneanother, to facilitate removal of the containers and to prevent damage to the seams or accidental opening of the closure elements. This spacing or the end, seams when the containers are; in assembled relation enables the consumer to read; printed matter, such as the nlling date or mark designating the, product, such as the cream legend 5i (Fig. 1) which may be placed on the annular neck section l5 of the body.

In such a1 dependingv end seam, the terminal edge of the arcuate terminal body wail 24 slopes inwardly andv gradually towards the downwardly curvedl edge portion 42. of the overcap 3". (Fig. 3) and` terminates well below the top surface of the overcap so that any water or other undesirable foreign substance that may fall onto the top of the container will readily be shed over the rounded edge of the seam ll'. In such a seam all crevices or interstices which would collect such foreign substances are eliminated.

Following the assembly of the container parts just described and while the container is still in the container manufactnrers pl; theentire container including the, closure an.; the overcap preferably is coated inside and outside with paraffin wax or other suitable sterile. coating material for. rendering the container liquid and moisture proof. The friction plug 2li then is inserted into, the opening 2E for closingv the container and the free triangular portion 38 of the overcap is swung down on the closure element 2l and the top of the container surrounding it. The marginal edge portion extending from the free. hinge, portion 38, of the overcap, overlapsv and, extends down over the end seam f1.3 along the two side edges adjoining the corner nearest the filling and dispensing opening. The completed containerathus temporarily closedv and scaled are shipped to` dairies for filling.

At the dairy, the hingeaole overcap portion and the, closure element 2'. are swung bacia to expose the` opening 26 temporarily for filling the container; After filling, the container is reolosed by replacement of the friction plug 23 into the opening 25. The friction plug 2S then is expanded under the edge of the opening 26 to form a holding bead 413 which secures the plug in place (Fig. 3).

Following the sealing at the dairy of the frictionl plug, the hingeable triangular portion 38 of thel overcap is brought down over the top of the closure element 2l and the top end member I2 and is secured in place by crimping or curling the marginal edge portion 35 extending therefrom over and under the end seam 43 and terminating in a crimped edge 45 (Fig. 3). The crimped marginal edge l5 retains the overcap in protective position maintaining the container parts in substantially sterile condition during handling of the container while in shipment and storage and until the container is opened.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

l. A container for products comprising in combination, rectangular tubular nbre body having a marginal edge portion at one end thereof providing an annular depending channel surrounding said body and spaced outwardly therefrom, an end member having a marginal depending edge portion disposed in said channel and secured therein in an end seam, said end member having a filling and dispensing opening therein adjacent one corner of the container, a hingeable friction closure element secured to said end member for closing and sealing said opening, and an overcap overlapped upon the container for protecting said closure and said end member in a substantially sterile condition, said overcap having a depending marginal edge portion and having a part thereof opposite said filling and dispensing opening disposed in said channel and secured therein with said end member marginal edge portion as a part of said end seam, said cvercap having a triangular portion opposite said opening secured to said top end member and having a free triangular portion adjacent said opening hingeable relative to the top of the container for exposing said closure and for exposing a part of said end member and said opening when illing the container and when dispensing contents therefrom, said free triangular portion of said overcap having its marginal edge portion crimped around said end seam for holding said free hinge portion in its protective position on the container when sealed.

2. A fibre container for liquids, comprising a tubular body having a necked-in portion adjacent one end thereof terminating in an exterior annular depending channel surrounding said necked-in portion, a substantially fiat inner end closure member having a filling and dispensing opening therein and having a peripheral depending flange secured in said channel in an end seam, and a substantially flat and smooth outer imperforate end member terminating in a curved depending peripheral flange of single thickness, a. fixed portion of said outer end member ange being disposed in said channel and secured between opposed Walls thereof to constitute a part of said end seam, an integral movable portion of said outer end member including its said flange being hingeable outwardly to gain access to the container contents through said inner closure member opening, said annular channel being spaced outwardly from said necked-in portion of the container body to provide clearance for forming said end seam from the exterior of said body, said end seam being disposed Within the outermost periphery of said body for maintaining the top end seams of a plurality of assembled containers in spaced relation to facilitate individual handling of the containers and to protect the end seams thereof from damage resulting from contact with each other.

3. A fibre container for liquids, comprising a tubular body having a marginal edge` portion at its upper end extending outwardly and downwardly and thence upwardly to provide an annular depending channel surrounding said body, a substantially flat inner end closure member having a filling and dispensing opening therein and having a peripheral depending iiange secured in said channel in an end seam, and a substantially flat and smooth outer imperforate end member terminating in a curved depending peripheral flange of single thickness, a fixed portion of said outer end member flange being disposed in said channel and secured between the opposed walls thereof in said end seam, an integral movable portion of said outer end member including its peripheral flange being hingeable outwardly to gain access to the container conn tents through said opening, said end seam being located below the top surface of said end member to cause the smooth surface of said outer end member to shed water and the like over said end seam, and a hinged closure element for closing and sealing said filling and dispensing opening in said inner end closure member.

4. A fibre container for liquids, comprising a tubular body having a marginal edge portion at one end thereof of reduced cross-sectional area extending outwardly and thence vertically downwardly and thereafter vertically upwardly to provide an annular depending channel of substantial U-shape in cross section surrounding said body, a substantially fiat and smooth end member terminating in a curved vertically depending peripheral flange of single thickness, said depending ange on a xed portion of said end member being secured between the spaced vertical Walls of the channel in an end seam located beneath the dat top surface of said end member to cause said surface to shed liquids and other foreign substance over said seam, the remaining portion of said depending end member flange being disposed exteriorly of and removablil crimped beneath said channel and carried by a relatively movable integral end member part, said movable end member part being hingeable outwardly relative to said xed portion thereof to obtain access to the container contents.

GEORGE C. REID. SAMUEL S. JACOBS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,770,892 Chamberlain July l5, 1930 2,064,189 Bodor Dec. 15, 1936 2,132,672 Berry Oct. l1, 1938 2,246,518 Hothersall June 24, 1941 2,249,052 Seiffert July 15, 1941 2,272,203 Hothersall Feb. 10, 1942 2,344,525 Taylor Mar. 21, 1944 2,393,758 Downing Jan. 29, 1946 2,499,416 Reid et al Mar. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 282,260 Great Britain Dec. 22, 1927 

